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Adult respiratory distress syndrome is a common respiratory problem with a wide array of precipitating causes and an overall mortality rate of more than 50%. Signs on physical examination tend to be nonspecific as do laboratory findings associated with the syndrome. Because of its diverse etiology, there is no one specific treatment for adult respiratory distress syndrome. Therapy is primarily supportive and centers around the use of mechanical ventilator support. The authors discuss the pathogenesis and management of this syndrome together with some of the newer approaches to mechanical ventilation.